KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD

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There is a story involving Yogi Berra, the well-known catcher for the New York Yankees, and Hank Aaron, who at that time was the chief power hitter for the Milwaukee Braves. The teams were playng in the World Series, and as usual Yogi was keeping up his ceaseless chatter, intended to pep up his teammates on the one hand, and distract the Milwaukee batters on the other. As Aaron came to the plate, Yogi tried to distract him by saying, "Henry, you're holding the bat wrong. You're supposed to hold it so you can read the trademark." Aaron didn't say anything, but when the next pitch came he hit it into the left-field bleachers. After rounding the bases and tagging up at home plate, Aaron looked at Yogi Berra and said, "I didn't come up here to read."

~J.M. Boice

Isa 50:7 "For the Lord GOD will help Me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed.

The prophet Isaiah here is speaking of Jesus, the coming Messiah. Notice, Christ is looking to His father to help Him stay the course that has been laid out for Him. Jesus did not come to Earth to carry out own His will. No! He came to do the will of God! So His determination was rock solid, like Flint. Jesus would not allow Himself to indulge in momentary pleasures that would deter Him from His mission! He kept His eyes on the road that had been mapped our for Him from the foundation of the world!

Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

Paul, like Jesus, was not distracted by the threats he faced. He had made the determination to stay his course to the finish line. He also kept his eyes on the road before him! The Father has a road for us to take. It is a road less traveled. It is a path self-denial that we might bring glory to the One who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood. In today’s world, there are so many, many things that can distract us. When we clearly know what in the world we are here for, it makes it plain what we are not here for! You and I as well, as followers of Christ, have an assignment from the Father, a mission and if we choose to accept it and walk it out, we will run right into the welcoming arms of Jesus! We will hear the greatest words ever heard: “Well done, good and faithful servant! Enter into the joy of your Lord!”

Every blessing!

— Tom